A new independent report says developing stem cell treatments and cures for some of the most common and deadly diseases could produce multi-billion dollar benefits for California in reduced healthcare costs and improved quality and quantity of life. The report, by researchers at the University of Southern California’s Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy … Continue reading Predicting the Impact of Stem Cell Cures on Healthcare Burden in California
Disease Areas
Encouraging Progress for Two CIRM Supported Clinical Trials
This past Wednesday was Stem Cell Awareness Day, a day that is meant to remind us all of the importance of stem cell research and the potential it has to treat a wide variety of diseases. On this day, we also released an independent Economic Impact Report that showed how $10.7 Billion (yes, you read … Continue reading Encouraging Progress for Two CIRM Supported Clinical Trials
New Report Says CIRM Produces Big Economic Boost for California
An independent Economic Impact Report says the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has had a major impact on California’s economy, creating tens of thousands of new jobs, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in new taxes, and producing billions of dollars in additional revenue for the state. The report, done by Dan Wei and … Continue reading New Report Says CIRM Produces Big Economic Boost for California
Rare Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and Heart Function: Breakthroughs for Three CIRM-Funded Studies
This past week, there has been a lot of mention of CIRM funded studies that really highlight the importance of the work we support and the different disease areas we make an impact on. This includes important research related to rare disease, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), and heart function. Below is a summary of the … Continue reading Rare Disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and Heart Function: Breakthroughs for Three CIRM-Funded Studies
CIRM-funded Stanford study finds potential diagnostic tool, treatment for Parkinson’s
Dr. Xinnan Wang, a neurosurgeon and author of a study that has identified a molecular pathway apparently responsible for the death of dopaminergic neurons that causes the symptoms of Parkinson's. Of the various neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's is the second most common and affects 35 million people world wide. It is caused by the gradual breakdown of … Continue reading CIRM-funded Stanford study finds potential diagnostic tool, treatment for Parkinson’s
Engineered T cells made from stem cells could provide immunity against multiple cancers
Dr. Lily Yang Within all of our bodies there is a special type of "super" immune cell that holds enormous potential. Unlike regular immune cells that can only attack one cancer at a time, these "super" immune cells have the ability to target many types of cancers at once. These specialized cells are known as … Continue reading Engineered T cells made from stem cells could provide immunity against multiple cancers
Scientists at USC untangle the mysteries of cellular reprogramming- a method that could be used to treat diseases
Dr. Justin Ichida, Assistant Professor at USC and lead author of the study Scientists have long tried to repurpose cells in order to potentially treat various types of conditions. This process, called reprogramming, involves changing one type of cell into another, such as a blood cell into a muscle cell or nerve cell. Although the … Continue reading Scientists at USC untangle the mysteries of cellular reprogramming- a method that could be used to treat diseases
Stem cell treatment restores man’s sight in right eye after 25 years
James O'Brien, recipient of a stem cell treatment that restored the vision in his right eye At 18 years old, there are several life-changing moments that young people look forward to. For some, it involves graduating from high school, starting college, and being able to cast a vote in an election. For others, this momentous … Continue reading Stem cell treatment restores man’s sight in right eye after 25 years
Moving a great idea targeting diabetes out of the lab and into a company
Tejal Desai in her lab at UCSF: Photo courtesy Todd Dubnicoff It’s always gratifying to see research you have helped support go from being an intriguing idea to something with promise to a product that is now the focus of a company. It’s all the more gratifying if the product in question might one day … Continue reading Moving a great idea targeting diabetes out of the lab and into a company
“Brains” in a dish that can create electrical impulses
Brain organoids in a petri dish: photo courtesy UCSD For several years, researchers have been able to take stem cells and use them to make three dimensional structures called organoids. These are a kind of mini organ that scientists can then use to study what happens in the real thing. For example, creating kidney organoids … Continue reading “Brains” in a dish that can create electrical impulses
The Stem Cellar 